Men's singles World number one Datuk Lee Chong Wei clinched the inaugural Mini Olympics gold medal after beating former All England champion Hafiz Hashim in straight sets at the Juara Stadium, Bukit Kiara, here Thursday.
The Beijing Olympics silver medallist who arrived home after a 10-day training stint in South Korea, hardly lost any sweat when he outplayed Hafiz, ranked world number 37, in straight sets, 21-17, 21-10.Chong Wei who bagged three super series titles this year - Malaysia Open, Swiss Open, Indonesia Open and the Malaysian Open Grand Prix Gold said: "Even though the Mini Olympics is not a major championship, I treat it as a perfect warm up before competing in the World Championship in Hyderabad, India."The World Championship in Hyderabad which is expected to feature all the top badminton players in the world, will kick off from Aug 10-16."Now, I'm fully focused on the World Championship title which is my main target now," he said and added that the next 10 days would be critical for him since he has to stay away from injuries.
Chong Wei said: "This time around, I'm confident of reaching the final. I failed in the past due to costly mistakes (2005 World Championship in Anaheim, California, 2006 in Madrid, Spain and 2007 in Kuala Lumpur), but I have learned my lessons well and I am more determined now than ever."Based on the Badminton World Federation rankings, the Penang shuttler, 26, had stayed at the top for almost a year now since climbing to the top after taking over from China's Lin Dan after the Beijing Olympics."This is my prime time to lift the world championship. Thus, during this 10 days I must focus on strengthening my mental," he said.
Chong Wei's coach Misbun Sidek said: "He needs to maintain the winning momentum before the world championship starts in two weeks. The feeling must be there should he want to win the championship."Meanwhile, the women's singles gold was won by top seed Wong Mew Choo who beat second seed Lydia Cheah Li Ya 24-22, 21-17.In the men's doubles, unseeded pair Chan Chong Ming/Chew Choon Eng won the gold after edging veteran pair Choong Tan Fook/Lee Wan Wah 16-21, 21-15, 24-22 in the final.World number one women's doubles pair Chin Eei Hui/Wong Pei Tty bagged the gold after beating unseeded pair Choong Sook Chin/Woon Khe Wei 21-16, 21-17 in the women's doubles final.
P/S : He travels to South Korea on taxpayers money, and he comesback to compete in Mini Olympics that is created by NSC to make money, what kind of rubbish is this. This is purely wasting tax payers money. Can Chong Wei win the World Championship? Did anyone expect Hafiz to beat Chong Wei?
Jul 31, 2009
Jul 29, 2009
Jul 28, 2009
A FUTSAL PARK
The Chengdu Football Association has struck a deal with the regional government for land on which to build a Futsal Park for the benefit of the city.
Earlier this year, AFC President Mohamed Bin Hammam presented Chengdu officials with a cheque for US$530,000 as part of AFC’s Social Responsibility Department's aim to help the region recover from last year’s devastating earthquake.
Of the $530,000 handed over to Chengdu in April, $250,000 came from AFC's Social Responsibility Department. The rest was a combined donation from the Football Federation of Australia, ECN, the English Premier League and Chelsea Football Club.
The Chengdu FA has revealed a stunning design for the Park with a horseshoe-shaped pavilion leading out to 12 futsal pitches, 10 of them using artificial turf. The building will also have a gym, restaurant, conference rooms and other facilities.
The Park is expected to open around spring next year and Bin Hammam is looking forward to being present at its launch.
“I am impressed with the strikingly stunning design and innovative concept of the Park,” Bin Hammam said in a latter to the Chengdu FA. “It would give me great pleasure to return to Chengdu next spring, in the Year of the Tiger, to inaugurate the Chengdu FA Futsal Park.”
Earlier this year, AFC President Mohamed Bin Hammam presented Chengdu officials with a cheque for US$530,000 as part of AFC’s Social Responsibility Department's aim to help the region recover from last year’s devastating earthquake.
The Futsal Park is moving closer to reality with the Chengdu FA forging a contract with the Chengdu Hi-Tech Zone Government for a 20-year lease on 26,680 square metres of land.
“Surely it (the futsal park) will play an important part in Chinese football,” Chengdu FA President Gu Jianming wrote in a letter to Bin Hammam. “The support from AFC and Friends will always be remembered in the hearts of Chengdu citizens.”
“Surely it (the futsal park) will play an important part in Chinese football,” Chengdu FA President Gu Jianming wrote in a letter to Bin Hammam. “The support from AFC and Friends will always be remembered in the hearts of Chengdu citizens.”
Of the $530,000 handed over to Chengdu in April, $250,000 came from AFC's Social Responsibility Department. The rest was a combined donation from the Football Federation of Australia, ECN, the English Premier League and Chelsea Football Club.The Chengdu FA has revealed a stunning design for the Park with a horseshoe-shaped pavilion leading out to 12 futsal pitches, 10 of them using artificial turf. The building will also have a gym, restaurant, conference rooms and other facilities.
The Park is expected to open around spring next year and Bin Hammam is looking forward to being present at its launch.
“I am impressed with the strikingly stunning design and innovative concept of the Park,” Bin Hammam said in a latter to the Chengdu FA. “It would give me great pleasure to return to Chengdu next spring, in the Year of the Tiger, to inaugurate the Chengdu FA Futsal Park.”
SATHIANATHAN HEADS TO CHINA
FORMER National Coach B.Sathianathan has been appointed as the Head of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Technical Study Group for AFC U-19 Women’s Championship which will takes place in Wuhan, China from August 1 to 12 . Top three finishers from this tournament will qualify for the 2010 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Germany.
Sathianathan will be assisted by eight technical assistants in the tournament is said to be of high standards.
"I am honoured to be given this responsibility in heading the technical group, indeed it is a new challenge for me, but I will deliver my best in this assignment." said the former Negri player.
AN EVENT CREATED TO MAKE MONEY .. WELL DONE SPORTS MINISTRY
National Sports Council (NSC) acting director-general Abdul Jalil Abdullah hopes national athletes would be able to achieve their respective targets when competing in the Mini Olympics.The Mini Olympics, organised for the first time as preparations for the 2012 London Olympics, is open to athletes who are ranked among the top in the eight sports to be contested."
It is not a state or national meeting but open to all athletes who are eligible to compete. There is also no age limit," he told reporters here Monday.The Mini Olympics was initiated following a resolution adopted after the National Sports Convention last year and aimed at providing a platform for junior and senior athletes to compete on a level playing field, based on their rankings.
Eight sports, namely aquatics (swimming & diving), athletics, gymnastics, (rhythmic & artistic), cycling (track & road), archery, badminton, shooting and weightlifting would be hosted from July 29 to Aug 9. Abdul Jalil said the NSC would spend RM1.1 million to organise the Mini Olympics that is expected to feature 1,595 athletes and officials with athletics listing 360 participants, the biggest in the event.
He said archery and badminton would be the first two sports to open their doors for competition on July 29."The respective national sports associations had made their selection based on their selection criteria and the number of athletes competing also depends on the associations," he said.
Meanwhile, Malaysian Amateur Athletic Union (MAAU) deputy president Karim Ibrahim confirmed that the athletics contingent will remain as 360 because there were more than 40 events in the athletics programme as compared with other sports."Unlike other sports, athletics features more than 40 events in the men's and women's categories and even if eight participants are fielded in each event, the number will reach 320, excluding coaches and officials," he said.
It is not a state or national meeting but open to all athletes who are eligible to compete. There is also no age limit," he told reporters here Monday.The Mini Olympics was initiated following a resolution adopted after the National Sports Convention last year and aimed at providing a platform for junior and senior athletes to compete on a level playing field, based on their rankings.
Eight sports, namely aquatics (swimming & diving), athletics, gymnastics, (rhythmic & artistic), cycling (track & road), archery, badminton, shooting and weightlifting would be hosted from July 29 to Aug 9. Abdul Jalil said the NSC would spend RM1.1 million to organise the Mini Olympics that is expected to feature 1,595 athletes and officials with athletics listing 360 participants, the biggest in the event.
He said archery and badminton would be the first two sports to open their doors for competition on July 29."The respective national sports associations had made their selection based on their selection criteria and the number of athletes competing also depends on the associations," he said.
Meanwhile, Malaysian Amateur Athletic Union (MAAU) deputy president Karim Ibrahim confirmed that the athletics contingent will remain as 360 because there were more than 40 events in the athletics programme as compared with other sports."Unlike other sports, athletics features more than 40 events in the men's and women's categories and even if eight participants are fielded in each event, the number will reach 320, excluding coaches and officials," he said.
Jul 23, 2009
SIMPLY EMBARASSING
Sportswriters' image has been tarnished by some sports journalists demanding for favours from certain sports officials.
Recently, a journalist requested an official who returned from an international assignment, to get him an expensive liquor bottle. This journalist was then treated to a sumptuous dinner in a well known sea-food restaurant.
To add further insult, the journalist expected the sports official to virtually feed him with stories. There were times when the official fed him some information in confidence, hoping that he would have a better understanding of certain situations. However, the writer went on to abuse his trust and used the "classified" information given to him.
JAIHO who recently met the official during the Manchester United match against Malaysia, was told that the journalist's behavior has backfired and is seriously considering reporting him to his employers.
This particular sports journalist even has the audacity to call and and shout at officials when other papers have a story and he has missed it.
Some messages sent by this unscruplus sporwriter have been revealed to JAIHO and he is embarrased .
What has sports journalism come to??!!! And these are the same people who write about sports associations' misdeeds and faults'. They ought to look at the man in the mirror before hurling brickbats at others!
P/S - Please don't call me to ask who this journalist is.. I don't want to tarnish his bosses good name and the paper he works for.
Recently, a journalist requested an official who returned from an international assignment, to get him an expensive liquor bottle. This journalist was then treated to a sumptuous dinner in a well known sea-food restaurant.
To add further insult, the journalist expected the sports official to virtually feed him with stories. There were times when the official fed him some information in confidence, hoping that he would have a better understanding of certain situations. However, the writer went on to abuse his trust and used the "classified" information given to him.
JAIHO who recently met the official during the Manchester United match against Malaysia, was told that the journalist's behavior has backfired and is seriously considering reporting him to his employers.
This particular sports journalist even has the audacity to call and and shout at officials when other papers have a story and he has missed it.
Some messages sent by this unscruplus sporwriter have been revealed to JAIHO and he is embarrased .
What has sports journalism come to??!!! And these are the same people who write about sports associations' misdeeds and faults'. They ought to look at the man in the mirror before hurling brickbats at others!
P/S - Please don't call me to ask who this journalist is.. I don't want to tarnish his bosses good name and the paper he works for.
Jul 22, 2009
HAVING A BIG EGO IS A GOOD THING ..
"What's the difference between a blowhard or a braggart and somebody that gets it done ?" I recall a time when Mohammed Ali used to get up and say, "I'm the Greatest. I am going to whoop you, I'm going to destroy you," to his opponents.
Ali was fighting George Forean in the famous "RUMBLE IN THE JUNGLE." George, at the time, was invincible. He couldn't be beaten. He was the hardest puncher Ali ever fought.
He punched harder than Joe Frazier or Sonny Liston.He could take the hardest punches and would never go down. And also he was much younger that Mohammed. George foreman was such a great fighte that he knocked Joe Frazier and knocked him down six times. Mohammad was Ali was past his prime. What he went out and did that night was amazing.Ali�0was smart. He had watched videos of Foreman's previous fights and he didn't tell anybody, not even his trainer.
He watched a video of Foreman fighting three people in one night.Foreman knocked the first guy out immidiately. They were all journeyman fighters. The fight with the second was closer, but he knocked him out after four rounds. In the fight with the third guy, Foreman almost did not win.He had a time. Mohammad Ali saw this and he knew Foreman's weaknesses - he gets tired.
For five rounds of the flight, Ali didn't throw a punch. Ali did the "rope-a-dope" and just leaned on the rope and let Foreman throw the punches to his body. Foreman had trouble hitting his face.
Angelo Dundee, his trainer said "Champ,Champ we can't let you take this anymore." Ali said "What are you talking about. By the fifth round Foreman was finished.Then all of sudden in the sixth round, Ali started pummeling Foreman who�0had nothing left. Foreman was completely helpless and Ali knocked him out in the eight round.
This was the greatest fight ever !
Mohammad Ali talks big, but he also delivers the goods.
His advise is "Have a BIG ego, but do not be egotistical. A big Ego is a positive thing.
Ali was fighting George Forean in the famous "RUMBLE IN THE JUNGLE." George, at the time, was invincible. He couldn't be beaten. He was the hardest puncher Ali ever fought.
He punched harder than Joe Frazier or Sonny Liston.He could take the hardest punches and would never go down. And also he was much younger that Mohammed. George foreman was such a great fighte that he knocked Joe Frazier and knocked him down six times. Mohammad was Ali was past his prime. What he went out and did that night was amazing.Ali�0was smart. He had watched videos of Foreman's previous fights and he didn't tell anybody, not even his trainer.
He watched a video of Foreman fighting three people in one night.Foreman knocked the first guy out immidiately. They were all journeyman fighters. The fight with the second was closer, but he knocked him out after four rounds. In the fight with the third guy, Foreman almost did not win.He had a time. Mohammad Ali saw this and he knew Foreman's weaknesses - he gets tired.
For five rounds of the flight, Ali didn't throw a punch. Ali did the "rope-a-dope" and just leaned on the rope and let Foreman throw the punches to his body. Foreman had trouble hitting his face.
Angelo Dundee, his trainer said "Champ,Champ we can't let you take this anymore." Ali said "What are you talking about. By the fifth round Foreman was finished.Then all of sudden in the sixth round, Ali started pummeling Foreman who�0had nothing left. Foreman was completely helpless and Ali knocked him out in the eight round.
This was the greatest fight ever !
Mohammad Ali talks big, but he also delivers the goods.
His advise is "Have a BIG ego, but do not be egotistical. A big Ego is a positive thing.
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